As I look back on life I wish I could tell my old self that although it does not feel like it now everything will work out in the end. While I am only 19 years old and I definitely still have a lot of learning to do I fully believe that everything happens for a reason even if that means the reason is to teach a lesson.

The first thing I wish I could tell myself is to stop begging people to stay in your life! Whether it is in a relationship or friendship, sometimes it is easier to mourn the loss of them then to hold on to people who don't put the same effort into keeping you. I know that sometimes all you want is to make people stay but you can't force them to when try their best to leave. People leave all the time it's a part of growing up and changing, but just because they aren't in your life does not mean you have to look back on the memories and not be a little sad that they are no longer there to make new memories. However, with that being said just because people leave your life doesn't mean they aren't good people maybe it just means they are not good for you.

Another thing I wish I could say is to stop putting so much pressure on yourself to have your whole life figured out. Who cares if you don't exactly know what you're doing in life.The sad truth is not everyone does in fact most people especially at your age have no clue! We are all just going through hoping one day everything will fall into place so just relax. Let whatever happens happen.

Don't be afraid to say "yes", you're in college it is fine for it not to be all about school all the time. Go out, have fun, and make the most of the short 4 years you have because after this life you will never get your time back. However, with that being said you also have to keep in mind that you are in college and so grades should be one of your priorities. While being in college is a fun and exciting time you should not let having fun be all you do because in order to stay in college you have to get good enough grades. It really is all about finding the right balance between school work and play.

To go along with that, stop wanting to grow up so fast! You have the rest of your life to be an adult why not make the most of the short time you have being a child. On average you spend most of your life being an adult, with responsibilities, jobs, and bills to pay so embrace being young and not having that much to stress over while you can. I know that when you are a kid the idea of being an adult seems fun and exciting, but you should not let that make you grow up faster than you should.

Who cares how others perceive you anyways, I know this one is a lot easier said than done but in reality who cares. The only thing that should matter is putting yourself first and caring mostly how feel about who you are. I know this sounds so cliche but try loving yourself first and others will follow.

Finally, enjoy the little things in life more. One day you can be riding down the road blaring music with your best friends and not have a care in the world. Or maybe you're having a girls night where all of you are laughing so hard it physically hurts. While at the time it does not seem like much it's the little moments like that, that you look back on and think the fondest memories.

I wish I would have known these things but like I said I am only 19, I am still young. Throughout all the hardships in life you grow without growing through certain experiences I would have never learned these. So for myself keep growing because quite frankly I like the girl you are becoming.